Part Two of our staff’s picks for the best new restaurants in Charlotte 2022 starts with Davidson’s milkbread and goes to South End’s Yunta and everything in between. If you searched for “new restaurants Charlotte NC” you’re at the right place. This list is truly comprehensive, however if we missed any please contact us with your new restaurant recommendations so we can try them.
Milkbread
Milkbread is a breath of fresh air in Lake Norman. A casual, yet elevated dining experience that offers a wide variety of menu items from nutritious bowls to a classic chicken sandwich, this restaurant has a laid-back, community feel that cannot be beat.
Mizu
Mizu is a dynamic new restaurant in SouthPark taking the tradition of Robata, or Japanese style grilling, to a modern level. Seafood is their specialty, complemented by a selection of innovative cocktails. The zen atmosphere and rooftop dining make Mizu a perfect destination for your next event.
Night Swim
This collaboration between Not Just Coffee and Undercurrent Coffee is officially open in Charlotte’s Lower South End with three additional locations. The cafe and roastery serves Night Swim roasts in a cozy, coffee shop setting. They also serve bites like breakfast sammies and toasts.
Old Town Kitchen And Cocktails
This cozy, welcoming neighborhood destination for craft food and drinks is housed in Rock Hill, SC, and serves up authentic Southern favorites with an elevated twist, including several vegan options. You can also order up a craft cocktail, glass of wine, or sip on one of the 16 regional beers on tap.
PARA
Searching for new restaurants Charlotte NC? PARA has to be on that list! Established in January of 2022, PARA has emerged as a prime fine dining experience in South End. Since then, the restaurant has energized Charlotte’s food scene with its top tier ingredients and international inspiration. Offering a range of eclectic cocktails, PARA is the place to explore flavor and experience culinary artistry.
Prime Fish
Join Chef Robin at Ballantyne’s Prime Fish for fantastic sushi and sake pairings. Don’t know what you like? Allow yourself to partake in their current season of chef-selected Omakase offerings.
Salted Melon
Brought to you by the creators of Reid’s Fine Foods, Salted Melon, a versatile one-stop shopping and dining experience, is coming in hot this summer. Get ready to stock your pantry with a nutritious selection of gourmet grocery items and enjoy their fast and fresh dining options made to order at the market. The delicious flavors of their lunch menu make it a must on our best new restaurants in Charlotte 2022 list.
Steak48
Discover a new appreciation for upscale fine dining at Steak48. Enjoy award-winning dining with their high quality steaks, perfectly paired wines, or the exquisite seafood offerings on display for diners to see at the raw bar. If you’re looking to celebrate or wow your guests, this is the spot to book. As far as new restaurants Charlotte NC in 2022 go, Steak 48 is one of our favorites.
Summit Coffee Co. (Plaza Midwood)
After opening a location in late 2020 in NoDa, Summit Coffee Co. opened a new location in Plaza Midwood in the spring of this year. Enjoy a batch of locally roasted coffee alongside a buttery croissant or light danish near the corner of Plaza and Plaza.
• READ PART 1 OF OUR BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN CHARLOTTE LIST HERE
Supperland
This is one of the new restaurants Charlotte NC that has been getting so much acclaim lately and for good reason. What once was the home of a historic Plaza Midwood church now holds a speakeasy and open concept kitchen that has preserved a piece of the neighborhood’s history. The menu highlights classic Southern dishes as an homage to traditional church potlucks. After finishing your wagyu pot roast or prime filet on the refurbished church pews, head on over to the bar to try the most elaborate absinthe offerings available in Charlotte.
The Batch House
Sate your sweet tooth with Cristina Rojas’ signature sweets. With cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, and more, The Batch House’s offerings are a sure way to walk on the sweet side of Charlotte.
The Eagle
After a year of delays pertaining to COVID, The Eagle finally opened its doors in Atherton Mill in January 2021. Though best known for its fried chicken, The Eagle also dishes out Southern comfort food staples like hushpuppies, mac ‘n cheese, succotash, and Carolina braised pork. Plus, they have over a hundred different beers available to pair with your down home plate.
The Jimmy
Experience the romantic pairing of Italian and French cuisine at The Jimmy Pastaria + Pizzeria. Regardless of which side of that border you prefer, this new Myers Park offering provides a whirlwind of flavor. Easily one of the top 10 staff favorites for best new restaurants in Charlotte 2022
The Royal Tot
Wash up at The Royal Tot for a boozy tropical cocktail on Louise Ave. Sip from a whimsical drinking vessel and nibble on something from the galley like ceviche, shrimp cocktails, or chicken satay. It’s the perfect place to get lost at sea in 2022.
The Waterman LKN
This South End neighborhood seafood hangout moved up onto the lake in 2022. The Cornelius location features a three-season patio for an indoor-outdoor feel. The menu, which includes brunch, is much the same as in South End, and you can also expect The Waterman’s signature Boat Drinks cocktail program, with playful, colorful drinks.
VANA Cornelius
VANA opened in South End in 2020, and the new Cornelius location is projected to open in 2022 with an outdoor bar and patio. Their craft cocktails and signature rustic cuisine, which centers around a wood-fired kitchen, will offer a slightly different menu at the Lake Norman location. Chef and partner Michael Noll will oversee the menu, which will be announced in coming months.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a stylish, brand new destination for music, craft beverages and internationally inspired small plates on Tryon. The large bar also has an outside patio outside. Vinyl serves signature cocktails, draft and bottled beer and a selection of wines.
What the Fries
Founded by finalists of “The Great Food Truck Challenge,” best friends and business partners Jamie Barnes and Gregory Williams have given South Charlotte the gift of gourmet fries. Since opening the first brick-and-mortar in 2021, What the Fries has been incorporating multiple culinary styles to introduce inventive menu items, such as Crab Rangoon Fries and
Veggie Hibachi Fries. While fries take center stage, you won’t want to skip out on the rotating selection of deluxe shakes either.
Xiao Bao
If you’ve ever had Asian comfort food but not Xiao Bao’s rendition, you’re missing out. Originally located in Charleston, the restaurant opened its second location in Optimist Hall. For us their Okonomiyaki alone makes it one of the best new restaurants in Charlotte 2022. This cabbage dish is so delicious and unique. Also…it may not be the KFC combo you’re used to, but their Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich (“KFC Sando”) will be your new comfort go-to meal.
Yunta
Over 35 years of friendship and a shared passion for exceptional food and service birthed Yunta – a Peruvian Nikkei restaurant owned by family friends turned business partners, Randy Garcia and Bruno Macchiavello. Nikkei cuisine, the reflection of the Japanese influence on Peruvian cooking, is a culinary adaptation that originated in Peru over 100 years ago. This seamless integration of Japanese culinary techniques and robust Peruvian flavors showcase Yunta staples such as ceviche and acevichado maki.
• READ PART 1 OF OUR BEST NEW RESTAURANTS IN CHARLOTTE LIST HERE
